Newsletter – Week 7, 2021

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WHERE’S THE COVID RECOVERY?

My goal for the 2021 session is to focus on helping Iowans recover from the wide-ranging impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

So far, I’ve been surprised and dismayed by how little time the Legislature is devoting to these concerns. The Legislature needs to focus more on the economic, health and community needs Iowans are facing. 

While record numbers of Iowans struggle with hunger, legislative leaders are making it harder to get food assistance and other resources to make ends meet.

While out-of-work Iowans wait for unemployment benefits, some legislators are pushing proposals to make the situation worse.

While county health departments and other local government agencies struggle to meet community needs, the Governor and many legislators are chipping away at their authority, rather than providing them adequate resources to do their jobs.

There’s still time to do better. We can implement a COVID Recovery Plan that:

1. Defeats the virus by rolling out vaccines to all Iowans as efficiently as possible.

2. Helps hurting Iowans, including struggling small businesses, food banks and workers.

3. Builds back better by focusing on critical needs, including an Essential Workers Bill of Rights.

4. Ensures accountability for how the crisis is managed.

GOP legislation cuts unemployment

The number of unemployed Iowans as a result of the pandemic remains high. Today, fewer Iowans are working than 10 years ago.

To help, Senate and House Democrats have proposed tax relief for Iowans receiving unemployment payments. But legislative Republicans want to cut jobless benefits to Iowans who are out of work through no fault of their own.

WATCH: U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne joins state Senate and House Democratic leaders
to share proposals for providing tax relief to jobless Iowans.

I have heard from many constituents who are waiting weeks—even months—to receive their unemployment benefits. Instead of solving the problem, legislative Republicans want to cut unemployment benefits for Iowans with families, as well as the number of weeks benefits may be collected when an employer closes its doors for good (SSB 1172, HSB 203).

Under this legislation, laid-off Iowans must wait a week before receiving the unemployment benefits they’re due. For jobless Iowans, no week is more important than the first week they’re out of work because they often haven’t had time to make financial adjustments or find another job.

WATCH: State Sen. Nate Boulton explains why this legislation is bad for Iowans.

After a brutal year for thousands of families, we should focus on good policies that lift up Iowans, enhance local communities and re-charge our economy—not mean-spirited legislation that kicks Iowans when they’re down.

COVID impact survey

The Iowa Economic Development Authority in partnership with the University of Northern Iowa, nonprofits and economic development professionals is surveying Iowa businesses and nonprofits. The information and data collected will help address the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on rural Iowa, in local communities and statewide. Once complete, the statewide executive summary and rural business report will be available at bcs.uni.edu/eda-university-center-university-northern-iowa.

TAKE THE SURVEY.


HELP FOR CRIME VICTIMS

Tracking provides transparency for rape victims

Rape victims will get more information and control in a criminal case against their abusers if a bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee becomes law (SF 451).

When the Iowa Attorney General surveyed local law enforcement agencies a few years back, they learned that more than 4,000 sexual assault kits were sitting on shelves in police departments and had not been sent to a lab for DNA testing. The Attorney General’s Victim Assistance Division went to work getting those kits tested.

SF 451 requires all sexual assault kits in Iowa to be tracked from manufacturer to health care provider, to the testing lab, and to law enforcement. Under the bill, victims can follow their kit throughout the process so that they know where their kit is at and what kind of progress is being made on their case. They will also have more input on how their case proceeds.

Cracking down on elder abuse

A Senate subcommittee has advanced a bill to better protect Iowa seniors from abuse and exploitation.

Many older Iowans can be vulnerable to those who don’t have their best interests at heart. It’s not uncommon for the perpetrator to be someone they know—even a family member.

SSB 1082 is designed to protect those at risk by:

  • Establishing the crime of “older individual assault,” which is the assault of an individual 60 or older. Penalties would range from a simple misdemeanor to a class “D” felony, depending on the severity.
  • Establishing the crime of “theft against an older individual,” which enhances the penalties for the existing crime of theft.
  • Enhancing the civil penalty for consumer fraud committed against anyone 60 or older.
  • Establishing criminal penalties for elder abuse, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, isolation or sexual exploitation. Penalties would range from a serious misdemeanor to a class “C” felony.
  • Establishing the crime of “financial exploitation of an older individual.” Penalties would range from a serious misdemeanor to a class “B” felony.

The bill is now eligible to be taken up by the Senate Judiciary Committee.


LEGISLATURE FAST-TRACKS MORE VOTER SUPPRESSION

The 2020 General Election saw a record turnout and no credible complaints about election security. Even Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican, declared after the election: “Record turnout during a pandemic is an amazing achievement and overall, the process went very smoothly in Iowa. Also, huge thanks to our state and federal partners for helping us provide safe and secure elections.”

Despite those facts, Republican lawmakers pushed through new restrictions that will make it harder to vote, make it easier to purge voter rolls and shorten the early voting period. A prominent voting rights lawyer calls this one of the worst bills introduced in the United States this year.

The bill Senate Republicans passed this week (SF 413) will make voting especially difficult by:

  • Cutting early voting down to 20 days. This leaves no wiggle room when voting by mail, especially given the postal delays that were common in 2020.
  • Permitting only one ballot drop off box per county, which must be inside the auditor’s office.
  • Prohibiting Iowans from helping others return their ballots unless they live in the same household, or are an immediate family member or caretaker.
  • Making it easier to remove eligible Iowans from the voter rolls, even if they miss just one election.
  • Prohibiting absentee ballots mailed before Election Day from being counted if the auditor doesn’t receive them by 8 p.m. This would have disqualified the votes of 6,500 Iowans in the 2020 election.

Early voting is popular among Iowans and has been a resounding success. Helping citizens more fully exercise their Constitutional right to vote is a good thing. That’s why Senate Democrats have proposed legislation to expand the early voting window to 45 days, and to ensure every legally cast ballot is counted.

Voting is a right, not a privilege. Every eligible Iowan should be able to vote safely and securely.


PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL SPRING FLOODING

Information from the Iowa Insurance Division

Iowa has a history of devastating flooding. With all the snow that’s fallen this year, be prepared for the possibility of spring flooding.

Damage caused by flooding is often a standard exclusion in home, renters and property insurance policies. According to FEMA, one inch of water can do $25,000 worth of damage. The average flood claim in 2018 was more than $40,000.

If you live in or around a high-risk flood area, you may be required to have flood insurance. Water and sewer backup coverage may also be a good idea. Typically, there is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance takes effect.

In the most flood-prone areas, flood insurance coverage is available through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Those who don’t live in a NFIP community can get flood insurance through private insurers. Call a licensed insurance agent to see about coverage.

Additional information about flooding and flood risks can be found on the NFIP website. For current flood alerts and stream levels in Iowa, check the Iowa Flood Information System.

Before disaster strikes, review the Post-Disaster Claims Guide to help you complete a home inventory and assist with filing any future insurance claims.


NEWS YOU CAN USE

Civil Rights history resources

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is documenting many of the unsung heroes and overlooked sites that have played a role in Iowa’s civil rights history. The project has produced a video series that will premiere at I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa, the annual African American cultural festival that will take place online Friday, February 26, and Saturday, February 27.

The State Historical Society of Iowa and the State Historic Preservation Office are helping to preserve and share Iowa’s Black history through exhibits, publications and research, including the Iowa Freedom Trail Project about the Underground Railroad. For more information and resources, visit iowaculture.gov/civilrights.

Funding to offer student internships

Applications are now open for the Future Ready Iowa Summer Youth Internship Pilot Program Grant, a funding opportunity to provide high school students with internship opportunities. Employers, non-profits, educational institutions and community groups may apply for the grant, which will fund projects focused on helping young people build key workforce skills.

Applications must be submitted through IowaGrants.gov by March 25. For more information, visit futurereadyiowa.gov/youth-intern-projects.

World Food Prize Youth Institute

The 2021 Iowa Youth Institute will be held virtually on Monday, April 26. This is a great opportunity for high school students to gain:

  • Scholarship – Students that complete a paper and attend the event can receive a $500 college scholarship.
  • Hands-on Experience – Explore research and work taking place in Iowa to address global challenges.
  • Global Youth Institute – Students have the opportunity to advance to the Global Youth Institute and earn additional scholarships.
  • Paid Fellowships – Students that complete the program are eligible to apply for a United States Department of Agriculture Wallace Carver Fellowship.
  • International Internships – Students selected for the Global Youth Institute may apply to the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship program, an 8-week experience working with world-renowned scientists and policymakers.

Get more information at worldfoodprize.org/en/youth_programs/global_youth_institute/iowa/